June 7, 2001

Present:

Absent:

88"

Keck

VLBA

Minutes

Current Network Status

There is one problem to report:

On May 16th, a software upgrade of Sonnet equipment at Verizon
introduced a configuration inconsistancy that caused over 30
DS3s to go down; among these, was the MKO DS3 from Manoa to
Hilo. The link was down for about an hour.

Thanks to SMA, the VIS is finally connected to HP through
fibers. Mac Cooper found some old equipment in his lab that
did the trick.

Wireless Network
Pui Hin reported that she has received more opposition to wireless
equipment on the summit. Following are the remarks from Richard
Wainscoat of the UH Telescope:

"Here are my thoughts on the issue of use of radio transmitters
for computer networks and other purposes at the summit.

"I think we should respect the submm/radio telescopes' objections
to these radio transmitters. I know that if any optical telescope
turns their lights on during the night, the other telescopes are
very quick to call them to ask them to shut their dome and stop
polluting the nighttime sky with light. I think we should follow
the same guidelines for radio emission.

"I also understand that interference to instruments from radio
tranmissions is notoriously difficult to a) confirm (because of
sporadic transmissions) and b) eliminate. This kind of interference
can affect the optical/IR telescopes as well as the submm
telescopes - for example, RFI could enter the signal chain of a
CCD readout. This does happen at Haleakala (although the radiated
power is higher there, and the frequencies are lower than some that
are being discussed).

"Additionally, I think that any permanent use of radio transmitters
at the telescope facilities will significantly weaken our position
with respect to requests to install repeaters and other transmitters
at the summit. For example, if we say that we can tolerate 30mW at a
distance of 5 meters, then why can't we tolerate 3W at 50 meters, or
300W at 500 meters distance?"

At the March meeting, CSO and SMA were asked to suggest some
guidelines including a list of equipment that should not be used
around the summit. However, the group recognised that there are
existing guidelines in the Master Plan. It would seem silly to
establish new guidelines without new information.

Mac Cooper of SMA informed us that SMA will be conducting some
tests originating from NRAO. The group is very interested in the
result of this study and concluded that no change should be made
to the current policy until we have new information. At which
time, a report will be drafted and if appropriate, recommendation
to the directors for any change.

Pui Hin has copies of the pertinent pages of the Master Plan for
anyone who needs them.

Hilo Based Network Support
The position was readvertised and closed on May 30th. Suitable
applicants will be interviewed.

PACCOM T1 and backup frame relay
There was a mess regarding the PACCOM billing. Several
observatories were billed even though no service was
provided. The explanation from the PACCOM group was that
the regular adminstrator Steve Grab who has been doing the
billing is no longer with the project. The new administrator
simply followed whatever was done in the past.

Concerning the moving of the UH end of the frame relay from a
T1 to a DS3, Pui Hin commented on the upside and the downside.
The upside is that we will have better chance for a full T1
frame relay backup. At present, UH has a T1 frame relay and
is over-subscribed. The downside is that the new DS3 will be
going into the same router as the the MKO DS3. So the backup
is not going to work if the problem is with the router.

Pui Hin will reschedule the testing of the backup link,
originally scheduled for June 5th, as soon as the link is
moved and the OSPF connection tested.

Salaries and Wages have gone down since Don Mickey has
been on leave of absence since October of 2000 and is no
longer with the project. Salary for a half-time person
stationed in Hilo is funded by the Gemini network grants.
In the past year, this position has been filled by a student
helper, but a half-time employee should be in place in
July. There is enough money to pay for the position for at
least through June of next year. After that, an assessment
needs to be made on how much work there is for the second
person. The expense will be added back to the budget.

Equipment and Wages includes money to buy an extra network
interface if an agreement can be made to use the ITS OC3 link
between UH Hilo and Manoa. (More on this later)

Telephone includes charges for the T1 frame relay. For the
past several months, the charges were covered by the money
budgeted for Don Mickey's salary.

Other Business:
Welcome to Jim Kennedy of Gemini who attended the quarterly
network meeting for the first time.

Jim brought up the topics of Internet access for the
MK Observatories, summit and base facilities, when the
network grants expire. He has talked to several of the
directors and there are strong interests in seeing the
costs distributed according to usage.

Pui Hin commented that there are a couple of scenarios:

As suggested by Jim, the observatories share the cost
of the DS3s according to usage. The costs of the two DS3
are $15k per month.

Make an agreement with UH to use the soon-to-be-ready
UH OC3 link (155 mbps) between Manoa and Hilo. Pui Hin
thinks there will be plenty of bandwidth available for
at least a few years and has already been talking to
UH Hilo as well as David Lassner. Pulling of fibers
between UH Hilo and the IfA is on-going. Pui Hin will
try to secure more committment and report back to the
committee at the next meeting.

Pui Hin further remarked that we could decide on whether
to prorate the costs depending on what the costs turns
out to be.

Kanoa Willington of the CFHT asked if anyone in the
group has a NTP server. CFHT has installed it's NTP
server serveral months ago and would like to see if we
can have a pool of servers to back up each other. Tony
Denault of the IRTF told us that the IRTF has acquired
the equipment and would be interested in joining the pool.